Using bioimpedance plethysmography for measuring the pulse wave velocity of peripheral vascular

Real-time cardiovascular monitors are crucial for preventing cardiovascular diseases. In this study, a simple bioimpedance plethysmography method was employed to measure the pulse wave velocity (PWV) from the radial artery in the wrist to the middle finger. In addition, electrocardiography was combined with the bioimpedance method to calculate the PWV from R and T waves to the middle finger. The results indicated that pulse waves can be measured from the middle finger, and PWV can be calculated from the middle finger. In this experiment, cuffs were employed to temporarily block blood flow to observe changes in PWV. The statistical results indicated that temporary blockage of blood flow did not influence the PWV of typical healthy people. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was adopted to establish a regression equation for estimating two types of PWV, and the relevance of the two types of PWV with other physiological parameters were also analysed.